If your tiles travel on wooden pallets, most import markets require that wood to be treated and marked to ISPM 15, the international standard for wood packaging. Heat treatment is the usual method. Pallets made of plastic, processed wood such as plywood, or other non-wood materials fall outside ISPM 15.
ISPM 15 exists to stop pests travelling in raw wood. Customs and plant health officers check the mark, and wood without it can be refused, treated or destroyed at your cost.
What ISPM 15 requires
ISPM 15 is issued under the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). It covers wood packaging such as pallets, crates and dunnage made of raw wood. The wood must be debarked and treated by an approved method, then marked by a registered provider.
The two long-standing approved treatments are heat treatment, which brings the core of the wood to at least 56°C for at least 30 continuous minutes, and fumigation with methyl bromide. Dielectric heating is also approved. Heat treatment is the common choice, and some countries restrict methyl bromide because it harms the ozone layer.
How to read the mark
A valid ISPM 15 mark is stamped or burned onto at least two opposite sides of the pallet. It has these parts:
- The IPPC symbol, which looks like a stylised wheat ear.
- The two-letter ISO country code where the treatment was done, IN for India.
- A unique code for the treatment provider or producer, issued by the national plant protection authority.
- The treatment code, such as HT for heat treatment, MB for methyl bromide or DH for dielectric heating.
Check it at packing
Check the mark during packing. A missing, faded or partial mark is a problem at destination, even if the wood was treated.
Fumigation certificates
Some buyers ask for a fumigation certificate as well. ISPM 15 itself relies on the mark, not a certificate, but certain markets or customers may still ask for a treatment certificate or a container fumigation. Ask your customs broker what your market wants at entry and add it to your tile export documents.
Alternatives to treated wood
- Plastic pallets are outside ISPM 15, but cost more and are often not returned.
- Pallets made from processed wood, such as plywood or particle board, are outside ISPM 15 because the process already kills pests.
- Loose loading with no pallets avoids the issue, with the trade-offs set out in pallets versus loose loading.
Which applies in your market
Most major markets apply ISPM 15 to wood packaging, including the EU, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and the Gulf states. Some add their own checks or a stricter regime, and rules can change. As of October 2026, check your country's plant health authority or ask your customs broker before you ship.
Write the pallet requirement into your purchase order, along with the rest of the export packing specification.
Next step
We check pallet treatment marks at packing and loading, alongside the rest of your packing specification. To confirm what your route needs, book a free sourcing review.